Stephen A. Smith, the fiery ESPN analyst and co-host of blustery morning sports show First Take has found himself in the middle of another potential controversy after reportedly dropping the “n-bomb” on live TV. While discussing favorite subject the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Smith seems to have let the word slip while speaking on the All-Star’s foot injury.

Defending himself for a second time during his “First Take” tenure, Smith denied using the word at all and addressed the issue during this morning’s broadcast.

“[I] don’t want to distract away the intention of the show but obviously there have been numerous reports out there that I have uttered a word that I should not have uttered,” said a subdued Smith. “I’m gonna repeat this one more time. I did not do so. I am a New Yorker, I speak very, very fast and sometimes my words get misconstrued and I get that.”

Smith continued, “If I were to say such a word, because I work for this network, this network would never condone such a thing. I would instantly issue an apology because obviously it would be a huge mistake on my part if I did utter such a word. But I did not.”

Smith addressed the earlier incident from December 2011 where it appeared he called Miami Heat superstar LeBron James the “n-word” – and Smith then cleared it up by calling the claims “patently false” via Twitter without publicly addressing the issue until this morning.